Clamp for attaching buffers to vehicles



T. A. HOOVER.

CLAMP FOR ATTACHING BUFFERS T0 VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22,1921.

1 ,397,21 3, Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

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T. A. HOOVER.

CLAMP FOR ATTACHING BUFFERS T0 VEHICLES. APPLICATION FllzED SEPT, 22,I921- 1,3912 13. I Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

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wunumm' lrlllmlll L-l flll VY Q QT UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIca THOMAS A.HOOVER, OF FRESNO, CAIIZIIFORIN'IA,v ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CHAIN COMPANY,INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CLAMP FOR ATTACHING BUFFERS T'O VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

Application filed. September 22, 1921. Serial No. 502,409.

V useful Improvements in Clamps for Attaching Buffers to Vehicles, ofwhich the following, taken in connection with the acompanyingdrawings,is a specification.

My invention relates to clamps or attach ing devices for attachingbuffers to the frames of automobiles.

One object of the invention is to provide an automobile buffer attachingclamp of such character a to dispense with thenccessity of punching orgiving special form to the supporting arms of the buffer which is to beattached to the automobile by means of the clamp. I

Another object is to provide a clamp of the above described characterthat will permit the supporting arms, and consequently the buffer bar,to be raised and lowered to variou horizontal positions.

Another object is to provide a bumper of the same character as the firstabove described adapted to permit the supporting arms to be movedforwardly and rearwardly with respect to the car when the clamping meansare loosened and firmly retained in any desired position within theirrange of movement when the clamping means are tightened.

Another object i to provide a clamp of the character above describedadapted for attachment to a channel bar by engagement with one flangeonly.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the front portion of an automobile ofconventional type showing a bumper attached thereto by the clamp whichis the subject matter of this 1nvention.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the inner side of an automobile frameshowing the clamp engaged therewith and also retalning a supporting armof a buffer.

Fig. 3 is a view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail plan view of the forwardly projecting endof the longitudinal bars of an automobile frame show ing the clamp inengagement therewith and also retaining a buffer arm, the partsgbeingbroken away to more clearly show the details of construction.

Fig. 5 is a. view in elevation of the inner side of the bearing member.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of the grooved or innenside of theclamping plate.

Fig. 7 1s a view in elevation of the grooved ing plate.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the clamping plate shown in Fig. 7

In the drawings I have shown my clamp in use in connection with anautomobile frame of a conventlonal type, having asa part of itsstructure two longitudinally disposed channel bars made up of the upperflanges 1, the lower flanges 2, the webs 3.

The supporting arms 4 sustain the bumper. bar 5 which is likewise shownas of conven- The nature of the device requires that a pair of theclamps be used on each vehicle,

or inner side of a modified form of clam'pjbut as they are preferablyduplicates of one another a description of one only is given.

Any suitable mean may be used for en gag'ement with the channel bar.erence I make use of a form of construction which can be attached toframes of those types of cars which are provided with mud guards andsplash pans connected to the channel bars in uch manner as to makediificult the utilization of the upper flange. A suitable constructionfor this purpose may consist of a hook comprising the shank 6 and thetip 6 the mouth of the hook being properly proportioned to firmlyembrace the lower flange 2 of the channel bar. To make possible a rigidengagement of the hook and of the entire clamp with the. channel bar, Ialso provide a bearing plate compris- By prefing the vertical portion 7and the horizontal the bearing plate is positioned in close contact withthe channel bar, the shank of the hook passes through the aperture andprojects for a substantial distance beyond the outer side of thevertical portion 7. As the webs of the forward ends of the channel barsof most motor cars have rivet heads which would prevent close contact.of a perfectly flat plate with the webs, I find it advisable to providethe inner face of the vertical portion 7 of the bearing plate (see Fig.5) with depressions or cavities 10 adapted to fit over rivet heads asthey are ordinarily disposed.

For securing the arm of a butler firmly against the bearing plate, Iprovide a clamping plate 11 having the groove 12 shown in this instanceas of rectangular cross-section and adapted to slidingly fit the bufferarm 13. This plate also is provided with an aperture 14 adapted toregister with the aperture 9 so that the shank of the bolt may projectnot only through the bearing plate but also through the clamping platewhen the latter is brought up against the bearing plate.

It is thus obvious that the clamping plate is adapted to pivot on theshank of the bolt while the bearing plate remains fixed and that aconsiderable range of adjustment may be effected by swinging it one wayor the other on its pivotal connection with the bolt shank.

In order to retain the clamping plate in any desired position within therange of movement which would ordinarily be re quired under serviceconditions, I provide the vertical portion of the bearing plate with aslot 15 preferably struck on an are having the aperture 9 as a center.The clamping plate is also provided with a slot 16 in a similar mannerpreferably struck on an arc having the aperture 1st as a center andadapted to register with the slot 15. Through the registering slots 15and 16 the clamping bolt 17 provided with the clamping nut 18 may bepassed. Under many conditions the head 19 of the clamping plate mightinterfere with mud guards and splash pans or other attachments, andtherefore it is advisable to countersink the vertical portion of thebearing plate as shown at 20 so that the head 19of the clamping boltwill at all times be flush with the inner face of the vertical por tionof the bearing plate. The shank 6 of the supporting bolt is providedwith a nut 21 which, as will be obvious, serves to clamp all of theparts firmly together and to retain the clamp in firm engagement withthe channel bar.

It is preferable that the bearing plate and the clamping plate both beof substantial length for ther'eason that friction is the only means forpreventing the supporting arm 13 from being driven through the groove 12under the action of a force such as the shock of a collision.

It will be obvious that by merely loosening the nut 18 and also bypreference the nut 21, the supporting arm of the buffer may be raised orlowered to any desired position within the range of movement permittedby the slots 15 and 16.

An arrangement such as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 may be used if desired. InFig. 7 the slot for adjustment is indicated by the numeral 23, being atthe lower edge of the clamping plate and the aperture whereby theclamping plate isv adapted for pivotal motion is found at the top andindicated by the numeral 22. In the case of this modification, the shankof the bolt 17 acts as a pivot while the adjustment is made by swingingthe clamping plate on this pivot and clamping it by means of the nut 21.The last described arrangement is merelythe reverse of the arrangementshown in Figs. 1 to 6.

Having thus described my invention and with the knowledge that changesand modifications may be made that are within the ability of theordinary skilled mechanic but which nevertheless do not depart from thespirit thereof, I claim:

1. In a clamp for attachin a buffer to the channel bars of anautomobile, a pair of contacting plates pivotally connectedto each otherto. adapt them for relative oscillation in adjacent planes, thecontacting surfaces of one of said plates being provided with a groovedisplaced from the point of pivotal connection, said groove serving toreceive a'butfer supporting arm, means for clampin said plates togetherin a plurality of angular'positions with respect to each other and withrespect to said point of pivotal connection and means for attaching oneof said plates to a channel bar.

2. In a clamp for attaching a buffer to the channel bars of anautomobile, a pair of contacting plates of substantial length'pivotallyconnected to each other to adapt them for relative oscillation inadjacent planes the contacting surface of one of said plates beingprovided with a groove displaced'from the point of pivotal connectionsaid groove serving to receive asupporting arm of the buffer, means forclamping said plates to-.

'gether in a plurality of angular positions with respect to one anotherand means for attaching one of said plates to a channel bar.

3. In a clamp for attaching a buffer to the channel bars of anautomobile, a pair of contacting plates pivot-ally connected to eachother to adapt them for relative oscillation in adjacent planes, thecontacting surface of one of said plates being provided with a groovedisplaced from the point -of pivotal connection, said groove serving toreceive the supporting arm of a buffer, registering slots insaid platesand a clamping bolt connecting the said plates by means of'ssaid slotsandmeans for attaching one of said plates to a channel bar;

4. In a clamp for attaching a butter to the channel bars of anautomobile, a pair of contacting plates pivotally connected to eachother to adapt them for relative oscillation in adjacent planes, thecontacting surface of one of said plates being provided With a groovedisplaced from the point of pivotal connection, said groove serving toreceive the supporting arm of a bufier, registering slots in said platesand a clamping bolt connecting the said plates by means of said slotssaid pivotal connection being established by the shank of a hook boltsaid hook bolt being adapted to support the said clamp by engagementwith a flange of the channel bar.

5. In a clamp for attaching a buffer to the channel bars of anautomobile, a pair of contacting plates pivotally connected to eachother to adapt them for relative oscillation in adjacent planes, thecontacting surface of one of said plates being provided with a groovedisplaced from the point of pivotal connection said groove being adaptedto receive the supporting arm of a buffer, means for clamping saidplates together in a plurality of angular positions with respect to eachother, a hook bolt adapted to engage a flange of said channel bar saidhook bolt having a shank extending through said plates and constitutingthe means of pivotal connection and means for drawing said plates andthe shank of said hook bolt into close contact with the web of a channelbar.

6. In a clamp for attaching a buffer to the channel bars of anautomobile, a pair of contacting lates pivotally connected to each otherto adapt them for relative oscillation in adjacent planes, thecontacting surface of one of said plates being provided with a groovedisplaced from the point of pivotal connection to receive a supportingarm of the buffer, registering slots in said plates concentric with thesaid point of pivotal connection, a clamp bolt extending through saidslots and adapted for drawing the plates together into clamping relationand a bolt passin through apertures in said plates and establishing saidpivotal connection said bolt having a hooked end adapted to firml engageone of the flanges of said channel er and means for drawing the saidbolt and the said plates together into clamping relation with thechannel bar.

7. In a clamp for attaching a buffer to the channel bar of anautomobile, a pair of contacting plates pivotally connected to eachother to adapt them for relative oscillation in adjacent planes, thecontacting surface of one of said plates being provided with a groovedisplaced from the point of pivotal connection for receiving thesupporting arm of a buffer and the other of said plates havinanextension adapted to extend along tie outer side of a flange of achannel bar, means for clamping said plates together in a plurality ofangular positions with respect to each other and means for attaching oneof said plates to the said chanplates, one of said apertures consistingof" a slot, a clamping bolt extending through said aperture and adaptedto clamp the said plates together in a plurality of angular positionswith respect to one another and means for attaching one of said platesto the said channel bar.

9. In a clamp for attaching a buifer to a channel bar of an automobile,a pair of contacting plates pivotally connected to each other to adaptthem for relative oscillation in adjacent planes the contacting surfaceof one of said plates being provided with a groove displaced from thepoint of pivotal connection for receiving the supporting arm of abuffer, registering apertures in said plates, one of said aperturesconsisting of a slot, a clamping bolt extending through said apertureand adapted to clamp the said platestogether in a plurality of angularpositions with respect to one another and means for attaching saidplates to the said channel bar the said means consisting of a hook bolthaving a shank passing through and constituting the said pivotalconnection.

10. In a clamp for attaching a bulfer to a channel bar of an automobile,a pair of contacting plates pivotally connected to each other to adaptthem for relative oscillation in adjacent planes the contacting surfaceof one of said plates being provided with a groove displaced from thepoint of pivotal connection for receiving the supporting arm of abuli'er, registering apertures in said plates, one of said aperturesconsisting of a slot, a clamping bolt extending through said apertureand adapted to clamp the said plates together in a plurality of angularpositions with respect to one another and means for attaching saidplates to the said channel bar the said means consisting of a hook bolthaving a shank passing through and constituting the said pivotalconnection and means for drawing the said hook bolt and plates intoclamping relation with the channel bar.

11. In a clamp for attaching a bufi'er to the channel bars of anautomobile, a bearing plate having a portion adapted to be positionedagainst the outer side of the Web of said channel bar, a clamping platepivotally connected with relation to said portion and adapted to beoscillated in a plane adjacent the plane of said portion, said clampingplate being provided with a groove adapted to receive a supporting armof a buffer and means for clamping said clamping plate against saidportion.

12. In a clamp for attaching a buffer to the channel bars of anautomobile, a hearing plate having a portion adapted to be positionedagainst the outer side of the web of said channel bar, a clamping platepivotally mounted with relation to said portion and adapted to beoscillated in a plane adjacent the plane of said portion, said clampingplate being provided with a groove adapted to receive a supporting armof a buffer, and means for clamping said clamping plate against saidportion in a plurality V specification.

of angular positions with respect to the point of pivotal mounting.

13. In a clamp for attaching a buffer to the channel bars-of anautomobile, a bearing plate having a portion adapted to be p0- sitionedagainst the outer side of the web of said channel bar and anotherportion adapted to lie against one of the fianges of said channel bar, ahook: bolt adapted to embrace the said flange and having a shank adaptedto extend through an aperture in said bearing plate a clamping platepivotally mounted on said shank and having a groove adapted to receivethe supporting arm oi a bufier bar, said bearing plate and said clampingplate being provided with registering slots, and a bolt connecting saidplates by means of said slots.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this THOMAS A. noovnn.

